Push button switch override clip



June 1, 1965 H. M. DE RONDE 3,186,981

PUSH BUTTON SWITCH OVRRIDE SLIP Filed March 26, 1962 Flc-5.4

INVENTOR. HENRY M. DE RONDE BY mim United States Patent O The presentinvention relates generally to push button type switches and moreparticularly to a push -button switch override clip. i

The primary object of this invention is to provide a clip for attachmentto a push button switch to override and hold the push .button indepressed position, and which will remain engaged even when subjected toextreme vibration and shock.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clip which is easilyoperable .with one hand to lock or unlock the push button retainingmeans.

Another object of lthis invention is -to provide a clip having only onemoving part, which is positively retained against inadvertent removal orloss.

A further object of this invention is to provide a clip which isycompact. and is heldin place by the means used to hold the push buttonswitch, the clip being usable in virtually any position since clearanceis necessary for operation of the push button.

Finally, it is an object to provide a push button switch override clipof the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient tomanutacture and install and which will give generally eiiicient :anddurable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consistsin the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements andportions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specilication,particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawingwhich forms a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective View of the complete clip;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the clip attached to a push but-tonswitch;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of FIG RE 2, but with theclip in locked position; and

FIG-URE 4 is a sectional View ltaken on line 4 4 of FIGURE 2 androt-ated 90 degrees.

The clip consists of only two parts, an elongated, U-shaped yoke lil anda slide plate l2. The yolte'lii has a lower arm i4 and an upper arm 16connected at one end by an arcuate bight portion 18, the element beingmade from dat sheet material and the arms being iat and convergent inrelaxed condition, as in FGURE l. Since the night portion le must beresilient, the yoke is preferably made from spring steel, or similarmaterial, which will also ensure good wearing qualities. Thelongitudinal edges of the upper arm 16 have upwardly and inwardly turnedflanged rails 2Q, the free end of said upper arm having an upwardlycurved tongue 22 extending beyond the rails. The slide plate l2 issubstantially the same width as the upper arm 16 and is a smooth slidinglit between rails 29, the ends of said slide plate having upwardlyprojecting lips 24. The rear ends of rails Ztl adjacent bight portion i3have downwardly turned stops 26 which prevent removal of slide plate 12,the upwardly curving tongue 2?. at the forward end retaining the slideplate at that end.

The clip is illustrated in use with a push button switch 3i? having abody 32 containing the switch mechanism and a threaded boss 34 throughwhich extends the axially movable push button 36. The lower arm lo ofyoke has a large opening 3S adjacent the free end thereof through which`threaded boss 34 is fitted, the clip being held in place by a nut ilnormally used to secure the switch. Wnen the switch Sil is secured to -apanel or other structure, the panel would be disposed between the switchbody 32 lhl Patented June i, 1965 and lower arm M, but has been omit-tedfor simplicity since the actual mounting is widely variable. The upperarm `i6 has a small opening 4t2, coaxial with opening 38, so that thepush button can protrude above the upper arm, opening 42 being a looseclearance t for said push button -to avoid binding .and allow for slightmisaliignment. Due to the normal convergence of arms 14 and `16, theupper arm 16 is held rrnly down on the upper end of threaded boss 34, asin FIGURES 3 and 4, so that the greater portion of push butt-on 36 isexposed and can be actuated in the normal manner.

To hold push button 36 down the upper arm 16 is raised clear of the pushbutton by means ot a finger, usually the index linger, under tongue 22,as indicated in broken line in FIGURE 3. Slide plate 12 can then be slidforwardly, by means of the thumb against either lip 24, to cover opening42. V1 en upper arm 16 is released, the push button 36 will then bedepressed and held down by the slide plate i2, as indicated in full linein FIGURE 3. The push button is thus locked in the depressed posit-ionand held by the resiliency of the yoke lo, or primarily of bight portion1S. The underside of slide plate 1:2 is provided with a shallow socket44 int-o which push button 36 seats to lock. the slide plate againstshifting and, b-y the upward pressure of push button 36, slide plate l2is held tightly against the flanged rails 20. Since the inwardly turnedilanges of rails 20 engage the entire longitudinal edges ot' slide plate12, there is a considerable area of frictional contact. Further, theloads imposed in this locked position have no tendency whatsoever t-oshift the slide plate 12 from its position over the push button. Thusthe assembly is extremely resistant to vibration and can withstandconsiderable .shock in any direction without becoming disengaged. Toenable the slide plate i2 to move, the upper arm 16 would have to beraised lcompletely clear of push button 36, but if the resiliency of theyoke is sutlicient to hold the push button down this is virtuallyimpossible, even under conditions of continued vibration and shocks. Theresistance to vibrat-ion and shock is of .particular importance in theaerospace iield, where vehicles utilizing such switch units may besubjected to extremes of environ-mental conditions and reliability isessential.

To release the push button, upper arm lo is simply lifted yby a lingerunder tongue 22 and slide plate 12 shifted by the thumb nail against alip 24, so clearing opening 42. Stops 26 limit travel of thc slide platel2 and avoid the need for precise positioning to ensure clearance ofopening 42, making the operation simple and rapid with one hand. Withthe clip in open or unlocked position no vibra-tion or shock can makethe slide plate 12 close over opening i2 inadvertently, due to the fullextension of push button 35 above the upper arm lo providing anobstruction.

While the clip is illustrated for attachment to a Switch secured .by asingle nut, it will be obvious that the lower `arm 14 could be providedwith suitable holes for attachment screws of other types of switches. Inany installation, however, the clip is as a unit with the switch, sothat alignment and .correct operation are ensured. Locking and unlockingare both accomplished .by simple sliding actions of 'the only movingpart, no tools of any kind being required. Both parts of the clip areeasily fabricated from sheet material by simple stamping and bendingoperations in conventional machines.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the inventiondisclosed herein may be made Without departure from the spirit and scopeof the invention, and that the specification and drawings are to beconsidered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

l. in combination with a switch having a body portion and an axiallymovable push button extending from said body portion, a push buttonoverride clip, comprising:

a resilient yoke having an upper arm and a lower arm;

means to secure said lower arm to said body portion;

`said upper armextending over said push button and having an openingthrough which the push button protrudes;

a slide plate slidably mounted on said upper arm and being ymovable froma first position clear of said opening to a second position coveringsaid opening, whereby said push button is held depressed into said bodyportion yby said slide plate iin said second position.

2. In combination with a switch having a body portion and an axiallymovable push button extending from said body portion, a push buttomoverride clip, comprising:

a resilient yoke having an upper arm and a lower arm;

means to secure said lower arm to said body portion;

said uppe-r arm extending over said push button and having an openingthrough which the push button protrudes;

the longitudinal edges of said upper arm having opposed anlged rails;

a slide plate mounted on said upper arm and being slidable between saidrails;

said slide plate being movable from a 'irst position clear of saidopening t-o a second position covering the opening, whereby said push.button is held depressed into said body portion by said slide plate insaid second position.

3. In `combination with a switch having a body portion t and an axiallymovable push button extending lfrom said body portion, a push buttonoverride clip, comprising:

a resilient yoke having an upper arm and a lower arm;

means to secure said lower arm to said body portion;

said upper arm extending over said push button and having an openingthrough which the push button protrudes;

the longitudinal edges of said upper arm having opposed flanged rails; Y

a slide plate mounted on said upper arm and being slidable between saidrails;

i said rails having stops at one end to retain said slide plate; Y

the end of said upper arm remote from said stops having an upwardlyturned tongue portion;

said slide plate being movable from a irst position clear of saidopening to a second position covering the opening, whereby said pushbutton is held depressed into said body portion by said slide plate insaid second position.

4. In combination with a switch having a body portion and an axiallymovable push button extending from said body portion, a push buttonoverride clip, comprising:

a yoke having an upper ar-m, a lower arm and a resilient bight portioninterconnecting said arrns at one end; said lower arm having means forattachment to said switch body portion; Y said upper arm extending oversaid push button and Ihaving an opening through which the'push buttonprotrudes;

the longitudinal edges of said upper arm havinU opposed flanged rails;

a slide plate mounted on said upper arm and being slidable between saidrails; Y said slide plate having an upwardly turned lip; t said railshaving slide plate retaining stops at the end `adjacent said bightportion; Y Y

the end of said upper armV remote from said bight portion having `anupwardly turned tongue;

said slide plate being movable from a rst position clear of said openingto a second position covering the opening, whereby said push button isheld depressed into said body portion by said slide plate in said secondposition. 5. The combination according to claim 4 and wherein said slideplate has a socket into which said push button seats when said Yslideplate is in said second position.

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A SWITCH HAVING A BODY PORTION AND AN AXIALLYMOVABLE PUSH BUTTON EXTENDING FROM SAID BODY PORTION, A PUSH BUTTONOVERRIDE CLIP, COMPRISING: A RESILIENT YOKE HAVING AN UPPER ARM AND ALOWER ARM; MEANS TO SECURE SAID LOWER ARM TO SAID BODY PORTION; SAIDUPPER ARM EXTENDING OVER SAID PUSH BUTTON AND HAVING AN OPENING THROUGHWHICH THE PUCH BUTTON PROTRUDES; A SLIDE PLATE SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAIDUPPER ARM AND BEING MOVABLE FROM A FIRST POSITION CLEAR OF SAID OPENINGTO A SECOND POSITION COVERING SAID OPENING, WHEREBY SAID PUSH BUTTON ISHELD DEPRESSED INTO SAID BODY PORTION BY SAID SLIDE PLATE IN SAID SECONDPOSITION.